Ryder's fate rests in his own hands

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Jesse Ryder will fly solo at this year's Indian Premier League but will be among familiar faces at his latest franchise, the Delhi Daredevils.

Ryder was snared for US$260,000 by Delhi at Sunday's player auction, on a one-year contract, after a bidding duel with his former franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore.

His manager, Aaron Klee, confirmed Ryder wouldn't be accompanied as he was at Pune a year ago, when psychologist Karen Nimmo and Klee took turns as Ryder's support crew as he dealt with personal issues that saw him take an indefinite break from international cricket.

"No, he won't need any of that," Klee said.

There was a low-key reaction from Ryder's camp after the auction. Klee preferred not to comment on the outcome while Ryder tweeted: "Thanks for all the messages very happy to be going to @DelhiDaredevils looking forward to it".

Ryder will rejoin his former Bangalore team-mates, Ross Taylor and England batsman Kevin Pietersen, at Delhi. Former New Zealand assistant coach Trent Woodhill is also on the Delhi coaching staff under head coach Eric Simons.

Ryder's salary is US$110,000 more than he earned at Pune but he has to play to earn the full amount which is paid pro rata. There's a logjam of quality top-order batsmen at Delhi, including Virender Sehwag, David Warner, Mahela Jayawardene, Taylor and Pietersen, and just four overseas spots available in each playing 11.

There could still be movement in the trading window before the competition starts in April, and Ryder also adds value as an all-rounder.

He appeared unlucky to be low down in the auction order and was third-last in the all-rounders group to go under the hammer. Other all-rounders went for big money early on, among them Australian Glenn Maxwell (US$1 million to Mumbai), Indian Abhishek Nayar (US$675,000 to Pune) and South African Chris Morris (US$625,000 to Chennai).

Speaking before the auction, Klee said the IPL got Ryder back on his feet last year and he gained a lot of self-belief from getting through it. Ryder swore off alcohol last year and was comfortable in the Wellington environment where team-mates were drinking after games.

"He can go to a barbecue and people are having a drink, that's how it is in society. It's got nothing to do with anyone else, all he's got to focus on is what he wants to do," Klee said.

"He's been making good decisions recently and we just support him to keep taking responsibility and keep making good decisions."

Ryder will be one of seven Kiwis in the IPL, after Jacob Oram was picked up by the John Wright-coached Mumbai for US$50,000. Others are Ryder, Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, James Franklin and Nathan McCullum.